Posts Tagged ‘Brisbane’

We had a long day of travel today. Alecia has only a few days whilst in Australia so a visit to her 92 year old great aunt Peg who lives in Toowoomba was in order. Toowoomba is somewhere around 200 Klms by road from The Gold Coast, it was founded somewhere around 1816. It is known as the garden City as is has an annual Festival of Flowers. It is also called a University City – University of Southern Queensland conducts a campus there. There are a large number of cathedrals and heritage listed buildings.

Aunt Peg still drives a car, still spends time on the computer sending email jokes and is a fervent fan of The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Team and the State of Origin Rugby League series. It was a long day of travel. Aunt Peg is still as bright as the last time we saw her around ten years ago.

Alecia great Aunt peg and Donnis

Alecia and Great Aunt Peg.

Tuesday 22nd March

Today Alecia wanted to catch up with her Aunts, Rosslyn and Sara both of whom live in Brisbane. After visiting them we drove to The Hyperdome and had sushi for dinner with Regelyn and Chris. Afterwards they had 4 games of Tenpin Bowling.

It was another long day of travel.

Thursday 24th March.

A delightful walk along the Broadwater then Donnis and Alecia swam in the sand enclosure. Before we knew it, we had to leave for the airport so Alecia can fly to Sydney and spend a few days with her brother in Wollongong.

Friday 25th March – Good Friday

Today we travelled to Noosa to Visit sister Enid and hubby Ken. It was a good thing we did not travel yesterday evening as the traffic was queued up for hours bumper to bumper heading north. It was the same heading south. As it was, traffic was relatively heavy although there were no delays. As usual when we visit Noosa, Enid tries to pack as much activity into the day. We went to the mouth of the Noosa River and the breakwater river mouth. Ken and I both took kites, my stunt kite and his strange looking kite. Mine simply could only get a few metres off the ground before sliding back to the beach. There was too little wind. On the other hand Ken’s kite soared to the end of the single line and stayed there until he wound it in. Noosa and particularly the Noosa Woods and river mouth are noted for traffic jams and parking is hard to find. Today was no different.

Sunset shadows at the rivermouth lifeguard station.

At sunset all the photographers arrive for sunset photos.

Frank, members of the public and lifeguards are fascinated by this Hobie Canoe with extra ama and trampoline.

One of several tourist boats on the Noosa River day and night.

Saturday 26th March – Easter Saturday

We were up early and down to Noosa Beach before the crowds. The crowds got there before us. No matter Ken dropped us off with all our gear and went to look for a carpark. Ken went off for a surf on his longboard, Enid and I Boogey boarded while Donnis body surfed. The water temp was ideal, just cool enough to be able to splash right on in without gasping for breath.

The Groyne lifeguard hut mid Noosa Beach.

Frank, members of the public and lifeguards are fascinated by this Hobie Canoe with extra ama and trampoline.

For those readers who are unfamiliar with Noosa Beach, let me add some details.

In 2011 Travellers Choice Magazine readers poll placed Noosa Beach in the top three beaches in the South Pacific. Hmmm.noosa-headland-map

Noosa Beach is at the extreme northern end of the Sunshine coast about 90 minutes drive from Brisbane. The main shopping street, Hastings, follows the beach line but is the only thoroughfare to Noosa Woods and the river mouth. Two other streets feed into Hastings via a pair of roundabouts, creating the worst kind of bottleneck. As the beach is on a peninsular surround by the sea, the river and several creeks there is no land to build alternate roads. The bottlenecks will always be a problem.

Enid on her Boogey Board.

Frank leaves the water with his Boogey Board.

Frank, members of the public and lifeguards are fascinated by this Hobie Canoe with extra ama and trampoline.

Leaving the Noosa River mouth was frustrating bumper to bumper grind along a narrow tree and bush shrouded road taking us over thirty minutes to move one kilometre.

Although not as early as yesterday we were still on our way before 8am. Enid had planned a 4 Klm walk along bush tracks in the Noosa National Park on the Tanglewood Track to Noosa Headland.

Enid Ken and Frank on the Tanglewood Track.

Tree huggers Enid Frank and Ken.

It was another hot day but once back on the coast section of track there was a gentle, very gentle breeze from off the ocean. We saw big black clouds gathering on the horizon and could see rain falling far out to sea.

Donnis Enid and Ken take a break at First Point Beach or was that Second Point Beach?

Standup Paddle Board Rider on a gentle Noosa Headland surf break.

Noosa Surf Life saving does not provide beach patrols on Noosa Headland. Instead a lifesaver on a jet ski floats near the beach. Each lifesaver is rotated every hour or so.

We walked back to the beach at Noosa Woods for a cooling dip before the big fat heavy drops arrived. Within minutes it was a soaking rain and people were rushing off the beach to find their car to join the bumper to bumper to get home or back to their campsite.

Noosa Beach

Noosa Beach.

After a late lunch Donnis and I headed home, expecting to beat the traffic jam. Because of the rain many people left a day early. We got caught in traffic and the journey took another hour on our usual average time.

Next week we follow the New South Wales Coast to Sydney on to Wollongong then western districts before heading north and home. It should be good fun.

About photos.

As a guide please be aware that all photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. In most cases, depending on the size of the saved photo, you can click again to enlarge to full size.

Map of our travels.

The SUN icon is where we are at the moment.
The Green Tent shows the locations we have visited over the last 6 years. The Blue Pins are locations we were each Sunday. The map will be updated each Sunday.